In 1633, as an outbreak of the Black Dying ravaged Germany, the inhabitants of Oberammergau, a small village in southern Bavaria, made a unprecedented promise. If God spared them, they vowed, they’d re-enact the ultimate days of Jesus’s life each ten years in gratitude.
Miraculously, the villagers had been spared – and virtually 400 years later, the folks of Oberammergau are nonetheless true to their phrase.
Now you possibly can expertise this uncommon and shifting spectacle on our unique five-night journey, which takes in each the Ardour Play and the attractive surrounding space, together with the magical castles and palaces constructed by ‘mad’ King Ludwig II within the nineteenth Century.
Astonishing spectacle: Go to the breathtaking Neuschwanstein Citadel on an unique five-night journey round Bavaria
One among Britain’s most insightful and entertaining cultural broadcasters, Andrew Graham-Dixon, will be a part of you throughout your journey, giving his personal skilled insights.
Andrew says: ‘I’m actually wanting ahead to it – particularly the go to to Neuschwanstein, the world’s most spectacular fairytale fort.’
Tickets and good lodging within the Oberammergau space are very restricted across the time of the Ardour Play, so early reserving is very really helpful.
A scene from the well-known Ardour Play, which is staged each ten years in Bavaria
OUR SPECIAL GUEST
You’ll be joined by artwork critic Andrew Graham-Dixon
A superb and fascinating artwork critic, Andrew Graham-Dixon is considered one of Britain’s main cultural commentators. He has offered quite a few TV programmes, together with the BBC’s Sicily Unpacked and The Artwork Of Germany. He’s additionally the writer of a number of acclaimed artwork historical past books, together with Renaissance, Michelangelo And The Sistine Chapel and his current bestseller, Caravaggio: A Life Sacred And Profane.
REASONS TO BOOK
The once-in-a-decade Ardour Play: The distinctive Oberammergau manufacturing attracts guests from around the globe.
It’s a exceptional enterprise, involving half the city’s residents as they retell the story of Christ from His entry into Jerusalem to the Resurrection.
Meet Andrew Graham-Dixon: The artwork historian and broadcaster will be a part of you on this journey, showing at Neuschwanstein Citadel.
He’ll participate in a Q&A session and discuss concerning the fort, which he described in his sensible BBC collection The Artwork Of Germany as one of the vital spectacular German monuments.
You can see out extra about King Ludwig II, who successfully bankrupted Bavaria to assemble his astonishing Romantic buildings.
Bavarian castles: In addition to Neuschwanstein, which featured in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, you will note Herrenchiemsee Palace, impressed by King Ludwig’s go to to the Palace of Versailles.
That is no much less elaborate: 35 seamstresses are mentioned to have spent seven years stitching the quilt for the royal mattress.
The palace’s gilded Corridor of Mirrors, greatest seen by candlelight, is arguably much more spectacular than the Versailles authentic.
Unforgettable expertise: The Oberammergau Ardour Play is a really memorable journey expertise.
In the event you miss this journey, you’ll have to wait till 2030 to your subsequent alternative.
